Hanover Adventure Zoo made the decision it was no longer the best place for the 22-year-old Sumatran orangutan Jambi — one of the few of the red-haired Asian apes left on the planet.

Lauren Messina Conrad at Jambi's new home at Audubon Zoo (AZA) in New Orleans said the decision for his move had been taken after Hanover decided to stop exhibiting orangutans in their 38-year-old enclosure.

Courtney Eparvier, Curator of Primates at AZA said: "Jambi joining the Sumatran orangutan population within AZA will add to the genetic diversity of the species, and our hope is that as one of the highest genetically ranking males in North America, he will contribute to the Sumatran population to save this critically endangered species in the near future."

Jambi moved to Hanover from the French zoo La Bossière du Dore ten years ago and his move to New Orleans came after consultation with the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) and the American conservation breeding coordinators Species Survival Plan (SSP) for Sumatran orangutans.

Audubon staff are keen to learn German-language cues which Jambi currently understands after ten years in Germany and about his behavior.